Let’s face it, the holiday season can be stressful. Whether you’re visiting family or spending it alone, we’ve got tips on how to find peace this winter from former Pittsburgh ballerina Eva Trapp, who left the competitive dance world to found the new Sneha Yoga and Wellness Collective in Lawrenceville. Our newsletter is fresh daily at 6 a.m. Sign up here. We’re also on Twitter @citycastpgh & Instagram @CityCastPgh! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Nov 23, 2022•13 min
In the 1960s, sick or injured people would get taken to the hospital in the backseat of a cop car or hearse — if they were picked up at all. It wasn’t until a trailblazing group of Black men from the Hill District started saving lives in their own community that the country began to develop a system for emergency medicine. Known as the Freedom House Ambulance Service, this team of Pittsburghers became the nation’s very first paramedics. Kevin Hazzard, author of “American Sirens: The Incredible S...
Nov 22, 2022•19 min
Have you ever gotten a tattoo that you regret? It's the risk that comes with permanently inking your skin, and local tattoo artist Jess Scutella wants to help cover up harmful imagery. They join us to talk about designing beautiful coverup tattoos, free of charge, for people who've had a change of heart and want to erase symbols of hate or violence on their body. You can find Jess on Instagram and at Kyklops Tattoo on the South Side. Our newsletter is fresh daily at 6 a.m. Sign up here. We’re al...
Nov 21, 2022•17 min
It’s the Friday news roundup! The team's getting you prepped for Light Up Night this weekend, sharing some fun funicular history as we wait for the Monongahela Incline to reopen, teasing a cool new walking tour on Downtown’s Fourth Avenue, and tackling how to have a holiday with less food waste. As always, our Friday shows are powered by great local journalism. Our own Francesca Dabecco on how to help your hungry neighbors: https://us14.campaign-archive.com/?u=47857f2c492a1dda05a4762b9&id=ea...
Nov 18, 2022•23 min
We just had our first snow day in Pittsburgh! While some local ski bums might be ready to hit the slopes, both Seven Springs and Hidden Valley are set to open later than in previous years. Why? You can probably guess: climate change. Vail Resorts, which bought both hills, announced that they wouldn’t open Seven Springs until after Thanksgiving and Hidden Valley until December 23rd. Charles Donnellan, the head coach of Western Pennsylvania Racing Club, is here to talk about what change looks like...
Nov 17, 2022•12 min
Dietary restrictions and food allergies can be a real damper on all of the delicious holiday dishes, but they don’t have to be. Pittsburgh food blogger Liz Fetchin is with us to dish on all of the allergy-friendly recipes in her new e-cookbook, An Octofree Thanksgiving. With a grocery list, timeline, and alternatives to comforting classics, Fetchin will have you ready to serve everyone at your table this season. Follow Fetchin on Instagram at @octofree and buy her e-book at https://octofree.com/...
Nov 16, 2022•18 min
Pittsburgh’s immigration court closed six months ago, forcing people to either travel across the state to make their case in Philadelphia or attend their hearings virtually, which can be a challenge for immigrants without a computer or stable internet connection. Laura Perkins from the Latino advocacy group Casa San Jose joins us to discuss where things stand six months since the closure and how her team has stepped up to fill in the gaps. Our newsletter is fresh daily at 6 a.m. Sign up here. We...
Nov 15, 2022•16 min
From sandwiches to salads, Pittsburgh has a long history of putting fries on just about everything. City Cast Pittsburgh host Morgan Moody speaks with Sarah Grey, a development editor for O'Reilly Media, about the city’s obsession with fries. You can read her fantastic article about Pittsburgh’s unique culinary tastes and history here. Our newsletter is fresh daily at 6 a.m. Sign up here. We’re also on Twitter @citycastpgh & Instagram @CityCastPgh! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit meg...
Nov 14, 2022•12 min
It’s the Friday news roundup! A blue wave swept through Pennsylvania on Election Day. Democrats won both the races for governor and U.S. Senate, and they even seem poised to take back control of the State House. City Cast Pittsburgh host Morgan Moody and City Cast Philly host Trenae Nuri speak with Spotlight PA’s Capitol Reporter Stephen Caruso about what the blue wave means for the future of politics in Pennsylvania. Our newsletter is fresh daily at 6 a.m. Sign up here. We’re also on Twitter @c...
Nov 11, 2022•17 min
Funeral director Sarah McAlee is a soup-lebrity on the North Side. She goes by brothmonger, and you’ll have to sign up for her newsletter if you want to where to snag her hearty creations. Hear about her journey from the morbid kid to comfort-maker-in-chief, plus all her best-kept, soup-making secrets. Our newsletter is fresh daily at 6 a.m. Sign up here. We’re also on Twitter @citycastpgh & Instagram @CityCastPgh! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Nov 10, 2022•15 min
Ahead of the election, all eyes were on the Keystone State thanks to competitive races for US Senate, governor, and more. So, what happened yesterday? From the gubernatorial race to local contests, the City Cast Pittsburgh team is breaking down which way the swing state swung. If you want to read up a bit more on our elections, WESA has been covering them in detail. Our newsletter is fresh daily at 6 a.m. Sign up here. We’re also on Twitter @citycastpgh & Instagram @CityCastPgh! Learn more a...
Nov 09, 2022•15 min
This time of year stinks in Pittsburgh, and not just because it’s election season. City Cast Pittsburgh producer Elizabeth Kauma is with Ana Hoffman, Director of Air Quality Engagement at CMU’s CREATE Lab, to talk about the other source of stench in our city: pollution. The CREATE Lab worked on an app that lets Pittsburghers report and track smells across the county. Here is the link to check whether you mail-in ballot was undated or had the wrong date: https://www.alleghenycounty.us/elections/i...
Nov 08, 2022•16 min
Mid-term elections are tomorrow! While our statewide races are getting a lot of national attention, we wanted to help you make sense of some of the local contests and ballot questions that matter. The City Cast Pittsburgh team is breaking down everything you need to know ahead of November 8th. Here are a few great resources for getting up to speed on the election: Pittsburgh City Paper’s Election Guide: https://www.pghcitypaper.com/pittsburgh/election-guide/Category?oid=14973309 WESA’s Voter Gui...
Nov 07, 2022•20 min
It’s the Friday news roundup! Election Day is around the corner, so our own Morgan Moody is breaking down some of the biggest statewide races with the help of City Cast Philly host Trenae Nuri. Looking to move past the ridiculous campaign ads, cut through the misinformation, and get down to where the candidates actual stand on important issues? We’ve got you covered. As always, our Friday shows are powered by great journalism. Steven Lee Meyers in the New York Times on disinformation in PA elect...
Nov 04, 2022•23 min
A new Pittsburgh-shot film is premiering this weekend! “Dear Zoe” follows Tess, a teenage girl played by “StrangerThings” star Sadie Sink, who grapples with the tragic death of her younger sister, Zoe. It’s based on the book by Pittsburgh author Philip Beard, who joins us to talk about what inspired the story and how it got to the big screen. Plus, our very own Morgan Moody talks about her experience working on set. The Oaks Theater in Oakmont is holding a special screening of “Dear Zoe” tonight...
Nov 03, 2022•12 min
While Philly sports teams are killing it on the other side of the state, Pittsburgh’s on the struggle bus. And we’re wondering: would things be different if we had a professional basketball team? So we’re revisiting our conversation with Steel City transplant Tyler Batiste about the ‘Burgh’s on-court legacy and whether — someday — we just might get a team of our own. Tyler is the managing editor of the Athletic's NBA vertical. You can check out all his basketball coverage here: https://theathlet...
Nov 02, 2022•18 min
It’s officially raccoon hunting season in Pennsylvania. While these garbage-loving creatures make some of us uneasy, wildlife advocates want us to think twice before laying traps. Rebecca Reid, cofounder of Scrap the Trap, is here to talk about dealing with our furry frenemies more humanely. Here are Rebecca’s top tips for responsible wildlife management: Think preventatively. Just because you don’t have wildlife issues now doesn’t mean you won’t later, so inspect your house for any holes in or ...
Nov 01, 2022•12 min
George Romero’s 1968 movie “Night of The Living Dead” is a cult classic. The horror flick is considered the godfather of the flesh-eating zombie genre and it was filmed in Pittsburgh with local talent. Judith O’Dea, better known as Barbara in the movie, may have been turned into a ghoul in the end, but she’s joining us to talk about what it was like making the iconic film. Consider this your Halloween treat! You can catch a Halloween screening of "Night of the Living Dead" tonight at 7:05 p.m. a...
Oct 31, 2022•16 min
It’s the Friday news roundup! Prepping for Election Day is stressful but not to worry, the City Cast team is clearing up some candidate confusion and talking about important voting deadlines. Plus, we’re learning why Pittsburgh pigeonsshould be revered and discussing the the Pens’ 90s throwback jerseys. As always, our Friday shows are powered by great local journalism. Pigeons at Acrisure Stadium: https://triblive.com/sports/faster-than-a-steeler-or-buccaneer-a-flock-of-pigeons-stayed-in-the-gam...
Oct 28, 2022•20 min
Four years ago today, a gunman killed 11 worshippers at the Tree of Life synagogue in Squirrel Hill. The city of Pittsburgh, and especially the Jewish community, is still grappling with grief from that tragic day. City Cast’s Mallory Falk grew up attending services there. She spoke with Maggie Feinstein, director of the 10.27 Healing Partnership, about how to process heavy emotions and honor the memory of those we lost. The 10.27 Healing Partnership is hosting a Commemoration Ceremony at 4 p.m. ...
Oct 27, 2022•18 min
After years of teaching abstinence as the “expected norm,” Pittsburgh Public Schools recently updated its sex ed curriculum to be more comprehensive and inclusive. But some of our listeners are still scarred by what they learned — or didn’t! — in schools throughout the region. Mary Jo Podgurski, director of the Washington Health System Teen Outreach Program, is the sex ed teacher we wish we had. With the help of listeners’ stories, she breaks down some of the most harmful lessons young people ca...
Oct 26, 2022•22 min
Does it seem like election ads are getting worse and more unavoidable every election...and like candidates get away with stretching the truth or outright lying? Stephen Caruso, Capitol Reporter for Spotlight PA, is here to talk about the wild claims ads make, who they're intended for, and what the memeification of campaigns could mean for future elections. You can find all of Stephen's election coverage here: https//www.spotlightpa.org/authors/stephen-caruso/ Our newsletter is fresh daily at 6 a...
Oct 25, 2022•17 min
Both state officials and Bigfoot believers have a bone to pick with a batch of fraudulent flyers posted across Pennsylvania state parks and forests since August. Trib reporter Mary Ann Thomas explains the dangers and what both sides see as an affront to wildlife management. Check out Mary Ann’s reporting here: https://triblive.com/news/pennsylvania/state-officials-bigfoot-isnt-lurking-in-pennsylvania-parks-and-forests-fake-flyers-reported/ And a website run by Bigfoot researcher Stan Gordon here...
Oct 24, 2022•11 min
It’s the Friday news roundup! If you’re scrambling to come up with a last-minute Halloween costume and plans, we’ve got you covered. The team has everything you need for a scary weekend, from pumpkin carving tips to Pittsburgh-centric costume ideas to bone-chilling events and parties for all ages. Check out the Halloween activities we mentioned in the show: Brendan Conaway aka Pittsburgh Pumpkin Guy will be live carving pumpkins all around tahn. You can get the full rundown of events on his Face...
Oct 21, 2022•23 min
Ten years ago, a new children’s show premiered on PBS starring 4-year-old Daniel Tiger, the animated son of the beloved puppet from “Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood.” The series was the first TV show from Fred Rogers Productions since Rogers died in 2003, and the team behind it wanted to honor his legacy while reinventing the neighborhood for a new generation. Chris Loggins, supervising producer on “Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood” talks about his creative process, shares some Pittsburgh Easter eggs in ...
Oct 20, 2022•18 min
What would it mean to lose a fixture in Pittsburgh news? It's a grim future we’re getting a glimpse of as portions of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette newsroom, represented by the Newspaper Guild of Pittsburgh, walked out in the city’s biggest newspaper strike since 1992. NEXTPittsburgh media columnist Andrew Conte joins us to talk about how this will affect the community — and working journalists — who depend on the outlet to “tell our stories from birth to death and everything in between.” City Pap...
Oct 19, 2022•21 min
We can’t stop talking about ghosts during spooky season, but we’re inviting City Cast contributor Rossilynne Skena Culgan on the pod to discuss a different kind of ghost…the faded old-timey advertisements on building across Pittsburgh known as ghost signs. A self-proclaimed ghost sign hunter, Rossilynne shares how these relics help us learn more about our history and what it could mean if we lose them. You can check out Rossilynne’s photos of these fading local treasures on Instagram @ghostsigng...
Oct 18, 2022•17 min
From having the most coffee shops per capita to being center stage for the coffee union movement, the Steel City has a lot to celebrate in its 8th annual Coffee Week. City Cast’s Francesca Dabecco and Morgan Moody share some fun history, plus lots of events all focused on community collaboration. Here's where they're getting a boo and a brew. Coffee & wine tasting at Adda in the North Side | Today | 7 p.m. Movie night at Redhawk in Sharpsburg | Today | 7 p.m. Aeropress competition at Colombi...
Oct 17, 2022•16 min
It’s the Friday news roundup! The team is talking about John Fetterman’s first on-air interview since his stroke — and the ableist response — plus the Penguins’ return to the ice. We also explain why Pennsylvania’s the best place in the world for fall foliage. (No, really!) If you want to read up on some of today’s topics, check ‘em aht! Buzzfeed on ableism in Fetterman rhetoric: https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/davidmack/fetterman-nbc-closed-captioning-ableism More on the history of how pol...
Oct 14, 2022•27 min
Did you know Pittsburgh is the backdrop for one of the most thrilling horror movies ever made? The Silence of the Lambs was mostly filmed around Pittsburgh in the early 1990s. When the house of the film’s skin-conscious serial killer, Buffalo Bill, went up for sale a couple of years ago, a fan bought it. Filmmaker Chris Rowan recreated parts of the set — including the infamous basement well — and converted the house into a “boutique accommodation and cinematic destination.” City Cast’s Mallory F...
Oct 13, 2022•22 min
